Chandigarh, Feb 9: The Union Government has officially sanctioned ₹411.96 crore for the construction of the Rajpura Bypass Line, a critical infrastructure project aimed at decongesting one of Northern Railway’s most saturated sections. Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Singh Bittu, announced on Monday that the Ministry of Railways has approved the bypass to streamline the movement of both freight and passenger traffic.
The project, which is part of the “Umbrella Work 2025-26” initiative for new railway lines, involves the construction of a 13.46-km bypass line. This strategic link will connect the New Shambhu Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) station with the Kauli station on the existing Rajpura-Bathinda line. By creating this connection, trains will be able to bypass the heavily congested Rajpura Yard, which currently acts as a major bottleneck on the Ambala-Jalandhar corridor.
“The primary objective of this project is to decongest Rajpura Yard, which is currently operating at saturated capacity,” Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu mentioned. He noted that without this intervention, the line capacity utilization in the area is projected to exceed 165 per cent by the year 2030-31 due to the anticipated increase in traffic.
The Ambala-Jalandhar section is recognized as one of the busiest segments of the Northern Railway network. The new bypass will facilitate smoother transit by allowing trains direct access to the Dedicated Freight Corridor at New Shambhu, thereby enhancing overall freight logistics and speed. Minister Bittu noted that the strategic bypass will significantly reduce the pressure on existing infrastructure, ensuring that rail capacity keeps pace with the region’s expanding transportation and economic requirements.
“The new line will provide direct access for trains, allowing them to bypass the congested Rajpura Yard,” the Minister directly said. He noted that the move is a significant step toward modernizing rail infrastructure and strengthening the efficiency of national supply chains passing through Punjab.
